The City of Kigali has commenced construction of 10 roads in different parts of the capital. The roads are part of the Kigali Infrastructure Project (KIP) to build a 215 kilometres road network and several bridges by 2024, according to Merard Mpabwanamaguru, City of Kigali's Vice-Mayor in charge of urbanisation and infrastructure. The construction works, comprising 70 Kilometres, was launched on November 24 and is part of phase two of the project. The roads include UTEXRWA -Kagugu road, Rwinyana Village Road, Remera-Baho-RDB, road, Migina- Controle Technique Road, and Mulindi- Gasogi- Kabuga Road. They also include Busanza- Muyange road, Kagarama- Muyange road, Sonatubes-Sahara Road, Miduha-Mageragere road and Rugenge-Muhima hospital-Nyabugogo. “Our staff is on the site during working hours to facilitate those who might need any support. Sometimes people will be asked to use deviation roads due to these construction works,” the City informed the public. Over 2,009 households to be expropriated Over 2, 009 households might be expropriated to pave the way for construction activities, City officials said. Emmanuel Katabarwa, the City Engineer, said in an earlier interview with The New Times, that : “ We plan to complete the roads by the end of this fiscal year (at the end of June next year) but sometimes we face other challenges such as heavy rains, features of some roads, among others that can derail the construction progress.” Katabarwa added that another planned road in this phase is Zindiro-Masizi-Birembo-Kami-Gasanze road, which stretches for 10.4km, and that it is already “under design.” In total, 21 sections of roads could be constructed this fiscal year. Meanwhile the City Engineer said Giporoso-Kabuga highway will be expanded under the project by Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA). “Studies are being carried out for this project. All such connected roads will significantly reduce congestion in bigger roads.,” he said. According to estimates from the Ministry Of Infrastructure, it costs Rwf600 million to construct a Kilometre of standard road (asphalt concrete roads with durable surface materials). Flyovers The City of Kigali has announced plans to construct 43 new flyovers and four-lane roads so as to ease congestion across the capital. A flyover is a bridge or road that carries a road over another, while a four-lane road is a highway with two lanes for traffic in each direction. Katabarwa noted that due to budget constraints however, they will have to start with priorities. “There is a big issue of vehicle congestion especially in road junctions. We have identified 43 junctions where it is not easy to move from one road to another. We have to expand the junctions and construct flyovers. But as we face budget constraints, we start with priorities,” he said. He cited plans to construct flyovers in Giporoso-Prince House to Kabuga, because there is a project to expand big roads with four lanes that enter into Kigali city. “One example is that of Gahanga-Sonatube. We will expand Nyabarongo-Kanogo road with four lanes and studies have started,” he said.
